Spotted-eye Hover Fly vs Underground Army Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spotted-eye Hover Fly Underground Army Ant
Scientific Name Eristalinus taeniops Labidus coecus
Order Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Family Syrphidae Formicidae
Size 12-16 mm 2-7 mm
Habitat Wetlands Caves
Diet Nectar Feeders Omnivores
Regions Throughout Africa Southern United States, Central America, South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Spotted-eye Hover Fly

A large hover fly with distinctively striped compound eyes and a bee-like body. It is an excellent pollinator found throughout Africa.

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Did You Know?

Its larvae are rat-tailed maggots that breathe through a telescoping siphon while living in stagnant water.

Underground Army Ant

A mostly subterranean army ant that occasionally surfaces in massive raiding columns across the Americas. Workers are pale yellow, reflecting their underground lifestyle.

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Did You Know?

They are the most frequently encountered army ants in the Americas but are rarely seen because of their subterranean habits.